Shloka 27

Devanagari script

धर्मराजमुवाचेदं व्रतमादिश मे प्रभो । समय: समतिक्रान्तो भवत्संदर्शने मया

Transliteration

dharmarājam uvācedaṃ vratam ādiśa me prabho | samayaḥ samatikrānto bhavat-saṃdarśane mayā ||

Translation

He addressed Dharmarāja: “O lord, instruct me in this vow. The appointed time has passed while I have been waiting for an audience with you.”

Word by Word

धर्मराजःDharma-rāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)

उवाचsaid

इदम्this

व्रतम्vow, observance

आदिशinstruct, prescribe

मेto me, for me

प्रभोO lord

समयःthe time, the appointed time

समतिक्रान्तःhas passed, has elapsed

भवत्-संदर्शनेin (the matter of) seeing you / in your audience

मयाby me

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira)

Vaiśampāyana (as narrator/speaker tag)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined ethical practice (vrata) and the importance of timely guidance from a dharmic authority; it also underscores accountability to agreed time (samaya) and respectful petition for instruction.

What is happening in the narrative?

A speaker addresses Dharmarāja, requesting that he prescribe a specific vow, noting that the expected time has already elapsed while waiting to meet him—indicating urgency and deference in seeking dharmic direction.